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From: Quick, Meredith
Date: 11/1/99
Time: 8:54:46 PM
Remote Name: 130.68.232.40
Obviously the theme of poverty is a major part of this story throughout this novel. What I do find interesting is that the problems of interpreting the Bible are still in effect today. One side takes the point that the church should be of nobility and should have wealth and the other such as the Franciscans says that there should be no wealth in the church since Jesus had no immense wealth. The way that poverty is worked through this novel also I think is an issue of power as well. If there is no wealth with in the church that power will be given away and if the church has the wealth then they will still have the power to make the rulings that they do. For example Master Jerome says, “ If an ecclesiastic commits a cardinal sin, with a nun, with a relative, or even with an ordinary woman (because this also happens!), he can be absolved only by paying sixty seven gold pieces and twelve pence.” Now this quote shows how the church buy having money and demanding money receive power because now faith is not the hierarchy but money is.